MHB How Does Subtracting Negative Numbers Relate to Adding?

[karush]

Find
a. Subtracting 4 is the same as adding $\boxed{(-4)}$
b. Subtracting -7 is the same as adding $\boxed{(7)}$
c. Subtracting a positive number is the same as adding a
\boxed{negative} number, where that $\boxed{?}$ is opposite of the original number
d. Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding a
$\boxed{?}$ number, where that $\boxed{?}$ is opposite of the original number

ok they are trying to teach about using counters to add
but $\boxed{?}$ was kinda on of those boolean confusions

 

[HallsofIvy]

I'm not sure what "opposite of the original number" is supposed to mean! You said before that "subtracting -7 is the same as adding 7" so you do know that "
d. Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding a POSITIVE number, where that POSITIVE number is the opposite of the original number. (If the "original number" is -7 then the "positive number" is 7.